Visual display of information (combination of text and graphics)
Display information to achieve a specific objective
Might include interactivity (e.g. dynamic)
Variations in dashboard uses
Role of the dashboard: strategic, analytical, operational
Type of data included in the dashboard
Update frequency
Interactivity
Types of interaction1
Select1
mark something as interesting
Explore1
show me something else
Scroll bars (scrollytelling)
Panning
Steppers
Direct walk (e.g. hyperlink travel)
Reconfigure1
show me a different arrangement
Encode1
show me a different representation
Abstract/Elaborate1
show me more or less detail
Filter1
show me something conditionally
Connect1
show me related items
Dashboard Design (Best Practices)
Know your purpose and audience - Ask yourself, what are you trying to say with this Dashboard? Who are you saying this information to?
Take advantage of most viewed spots - You should start with your most important content in the top left. This is where most people start viewing a visualization.
Limit the number of views - In general, you should limit the number of views to two or three.
Show filters - Use of filters help specify which data is shown in the view.
Use highlighting - When turned on, a selection in one view can show relevant fields in other views.
Dashboards are a collection of worksheets and information shown in a single view. Worksheets and dashboards are connected.
Tableau: Dashboard Layout
On the Dashboard, several options are available on the left side menu.
The Dashboard pane allows you to toggle the different views available. Possible options include Default, Desktop, Tablet, and Phone.
The Size section allows you to change the default size of the dashboard.
The Sheets sections provides a list of available views that can be added to the dashboard.
Tableau: Dashboard Layout
Dashboards are a collection of worksheets and information shown in a single view. Worksheets and dashboards are connected.
Objects allow you to add visual appeal and interactivity to your dashboard.
Horizontal and Vertical - Containers that let you group related objects.
Text - Creates headers and explanations.
Image - Add visual graphics to the dashboard.
Web Page -
Blank - Help you adjust spacing between dashboard items.
Navigation - Lets your audience navigate from one object to another.
Download - Lets your audience download a PDF, PowerPoint, or PNG of entire dashboard.
Tableau: Dashboard Tips
Using the sheet drop down menu, you can add a Show/Hide button. This provides the option to toggle the sheet off and on.
If you edit a view on a worksheet, it will update on any dashboard using that view. This is the same for any view updated on a dashboard.
Sheets can be added to a dashboard by dragging them from the Dashboard pane over to the dashboard Canvas.
You can swap a sheet using this area. You first must click on the sheet on the dashboard.
Tableau: Dasbhoard Actions
Interactivity can be added to a dashboard to enhance your audience experience.
Using the dropdown menu on a sheet on the dashboard, you can add filters and highlighters. Along with interactivity, actions can be added to your dashboard.
Under the Dashboards menu, click Actions to set up a new Dashboard action.
Highlight Action - Use this action to call attention to marks of interest by coloring relevant marks and shading others.
Filter Actions - Use this action to send information between worksheets.
URL Actions - Uses a hyperlink that points to a webpage, file, or other web-base outside Tableau. Checking the box “single-select only” prevents navigation to a sheet after clicking it once.
Tableau: Publishing a Dashboard
Tableau provides the option to share your data sources (live or extract), dashboards, stories, and sheets with people using Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud.
When publishing to a server you have the options to
Add tags
Select which worksheets are published
Set permissions
Embed data sources
Once published, the workbook can be viewed using a web browser or the Tableau mobile app. Along with publishing a dashboard, workbooks can be exported as a PDF file option on the navigation bar.
